Card Factory unveils special dividend

The Wakefield-based firm has been hit by a double whammy from the weak pound and rising wage costs, which resulted in pre-tax profits falling 12.3 per cent to £72.6m in the year to January 31.

​The group took a £14.6​m hit, largely from the ​fall in sterling and higher staff costs ​due to the national living wage.​

​The ​company, which specialises in greeting cards, wrappings and gifts​, said that earnings growth in the new financial year will be limited amid ongoing cost pressures, despite efforts to offset this with savings across the business.

Shares in Card Factory took a tumble in January after it warned over the impact of a margin squeeze on its profits.

But in its full year results on Tuesday, the firm ​reported a solid performance across its 915 UK stores in the face of tough trading conditions, with group like-for-like sales ​rising​ 2.9​ per cent​ - an increase on the 0.6​ per cent​ growth the previous year.

The group also cheered shareholders with the news of the additional dividend. It paid out a special dividend last December and said it plans to confirm another at the time of its half-year results, in the range of 5p to 10p a share.

The shares closed up 24p to 197p on Tuesday following the announcement.

Card Factory’s chief executive Karen Hubbard said: “From a profit perspective, we faced strong headwinds of £14.6m in the year, principally due to the combined impact of foreign exchange and national living wage.

“Our cost-saving initiatives during the year provided substantial mitigation and we have laid the foundations for further efficiencies to be delivered in the future.

“However, given the continuing headwinds, and, as previously stated, any EBITDA (underlying earnings), growth in full-year 2018-19 is likely to be limited.”

The firm expects the cost pressures from the weak pound and living wage to ease in 2019-20 as it delivers a raft of “significant” cost-saving initiatives.

It added that sales have continued to hold up well in the current year, saying it was satisfied with the start ​it has made and particularly pleased with the record seasonal performances from Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Easter.

T​he group reported​ an increase in annual revenue as it sold more cards at a higher average selling price.​ ​

The company, which sells most of its products for under a pound, ​reported a 6 per​ ​cent increase in full-year revenue to ​£​422.1​m.

Card Factory raised its 2017 total dividend by 2.2 per​ ​cent to 9.3 pence.

The retailer, which opened 50 new UK sites in 2017, said it saw an increase in footfall at its sites, indicating its resilience against a broader trend of declining high​ ​street footfalls.

It plans to open further outlets and continue to grow its online arm, which saw sales jump 67​ per cent​ over the year.

A​nalyst ​Adam Tomlinson​ ​​at Liberum said: “​Card Factory’s results have come in broadly as expected​,​ but there contains little by the way of a positive catalyst in our view.

​“​Any underlying EBITDA growth for the current year is likely to be limited EBITDA and the expectations for a special dividend are now between 5p-10p v​ersus. 15p last year. ​

“​This should not be a surprise​,​ but could mean that some analyst​s’​ forecasts may appear too bullish.

​“​We have reduced our ​target price​ to reflect the lack of profit growth, the challenging outlook but keep a ​‘buy’ recommendation, reflecting the valuation and the high cash generative nature of the group which still offers 9​ to 10 per cent​ dividend yield.​”